Abstract Coaxial electrospray is a standard method for encapsulation used in micron scales’ medicinal and food industries. Treatment of cancer using drug carriers has attracted many researchers to be interested in this field. Therefore, in this experiment, we consider covering the Doxorubicin drug, which is used to treat cancer by the Chitosan, known as natural biodegradable polymers. The use of this coating is due to the reduction of unwanted harmful side effects and the improvement of therapeutic effects. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of chitosan solution concentration on the size of produced microcapsules. Hence, in this project, we utilized equipment such as a high-speed camera and optical microscope to capture pictures and measure particles diameters. Chitosan solution, used as the outer fluid in the electrospray process, is prepared at five distinct weight concentration (wt%) from 1 to 5 percent and two volume concentrations (V/V) of Acetic acid solvent with volume percent of 10 and 30. The operating test parameters such as the applied voltage, electrode distance, inner liquid flow rate, and flow rate ratio are set in the range of 12-20 (Kv), 15-55 (mm), 1-6 (ml/hr) and 4-12, respectively. Finally, the produced microcapsules are collected in an edible oil container and the particle shell let to be dried for two days before eva‎luation. Measurement of physical and electrical properties of Chitosan solvent determined that for every weight percent increment in the chitosan powder with 10 and 30% solvent by volume concentration, the solution surface tension and density is only increased about 1%. On the other hand, adding a 30% volume concentration solvent to Chitosan enhances the viscosity more than adding a 10% volumetric solvent concentration. Instead, a Chitosan solution prepared with a 10% volume concentration of solvent develops more growth than 30% solvent in terms of electrical conductivity. Therefore, the solutions prepared in the electrospray test determine that the appropriate concentration for the production of homo size microcapsules occurs for (Ch1%Ac30%) (Chitosan with a weight percent 1% and solvent with a volume percent of 30%). Also, a cone jet was seen only at the same concentration. The smallest particles obtained at this concentration, with an average diameter of 54.31 microns, with a standard deviation of about 86.6 microns. Another result of this research is that when the percent of the solvent increases, electrical conductivity and viscosity decrease and increase, respectively. But the increasing electrical conductivity has dramatic effects on the electrospray process because it could prevent cone jet formation and obtaining mono-size microcapsules by disturbing the stability of the cone jet.

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مهدي كاروان

محمود اشرفي زاده، محسن ثقفيان